The 1st failure was 8/23.I had successful updates to Windows 10-1607 on 8/25 and 9/29 and updates to the malicious sw removal tool on 9/13 and 10/11.Everything else has been failures of this NET framework. No update to 1703 ever.

That has a bit of age on it as computers go. Is it on your OEM's list of Windows 10 1607 tested models?

I have not reviewed your logs, but I'm curious which version of NET framework was successfully installed last. You'd need to access the Windows Registry in order to know this. I am hesitant to advise you to go poking around in there if you have no experience in doing so. Can you tell by looking at your Windows Update History when NET framework was last updated and to which version?

None (NET framework) that come up on the available history which goes back only to 4/12/17 - when updates for Security and Malicious SW were installed.I may have done a system recover around then, something had gone wacky and I needed to do the recover.

Is there an alternate way at looking for an update history other than the Windows Registry - you're correct, I am not comfortable going there.

The box is a DELL which came with Windows 7 pre-installed, W10 was a later update.

You may have to have a previous version of NET framework in order for the system to update to the current one. Your system recovery may have removed that. Being two versions of Windows behind doesn't help.Have you tried the Windows Update Troubleshooter mentioned HERE?

Have you checked Dell's Compatibility List to make sure everything on your computer is compatible with 1607 which is the Anniversary Update? If Windows Update finds incompatibility it won't install an update.